Sullivan County Man Arrested After Fatal Two-Car Crash

A Ferndale man was arrested following a two-car crash in the Village of Liberty that left one woman dead, police said.

Village of Liberty police responded to a report of the crash at about 8:28 p.m. Friday on State Route 52 near Sullivan Avenue. Officers said a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse collided with a 2004 Honda Pilot.

Police said the Chevrolet Traverse was carrying two passengers — a 22-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, both of Liberty — who were taken to Garnet Health Medical Center – Catskills with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Honda Pilot was driven by Saul Vicente Hernandez, 33, of Ferndale, police said. The vehicle also contained a female passenger, Susanna Lucas, 37, of Ferndale, and a 12-year-old boy. The boy was taken to Garnet Health-Catskills and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Lucas was also transported to Garnet Health – Catskills, where she later died from her injuries and was pronounced dead, police said.

Following a preliminary investigation, Hernandez was arrested and charged with first-degree vehicular manslaughter and aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child passenger under the age of 16, both felonies, along with multiple traffic infractions.

Hernandez was arraigned in Town of Liberty Court and remanded to the Sullivan County Jail in lieu of $250,000 cash bail, a $750,000 bond or a $2.2 million partially secured bond.

The Village of Liberty Police Department was assisted in the investigation by New York State Police, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office and the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation remains ongoing.

Note: This article was updated on December 22 with the correct name of the hospital. It is Garnet Health Medical Center- Catskills.